Water - Part of Prairie View

Certainly tis true enough we have seen plenty of water on the prairie fields these past weeks. The rain interrupted other forces of nature. In turn we had a multitude of starts and stops, launching the gardening and landscaping season countless times! At last it appears to be in full swing; just look around you and see for yourself. Irises have been spectacular, lilacs were lush and if the flourish shown in the greenery of day lilies and hostas is any sign of what is to come we are going to enjoy a full palette of color for weeks to come. Get past the cicadas and the extra mowing and it's a beautiful world!

Still, we do live on the flatlands of the midwest and there truly is nothing plainer than the plains. It's up to us to take what is before us (front yards) or in some cases, behind us (back yards) and, well, dress it up a bit. Using imagination to enhance your yard really displays your appreciation for it.

One of our clients chose a natural and dramatic way of diluting the would-be monotony. They put in a pondless fountain. Well, actually, we put it in after they explained what they wanted and how it was to look. Of course it was to look fabulous!

Above you see a long shot, full view of the landscape after our work was finished. True, it was lovely before, with the arch and trees and plantings. And, true, we had a lovely area in which to place the fountain.

  At the end of the day our clients can relax and enjoy the view beyond the porch. There's an ever-flowing fountain creating a waterfall effect both visually and audibly. Here, look at the close up.

We're guessing you'll be able to imagine the sound of the water gently cascading downward. What you don't see is the inner workings which return the water back to the top. It's an easy to care for and easy to maintain system.

What remains is to add some plants which will make the transition from the yard to the fountain smoother and abundant. Then there's nothing left to do but sit back and work on the oooh! and ahhh! factors!

Maybe there's a room needing a view at your home or business. We'll love hearing what you want to do next!

Do You Know or Do You Care?

Back in the 70's (that's the 1970's) a local radio show was named "Do you know or do you care?" We thought it was a good idea then and still do. Here's some of what we came up with:

 It's a great time of the year to visit places such as Lincoln Memorial Gardens or the Botanical Gardens (Washington Park, Spfd, IL or St. Louis, MO).

The monetary award for designing Central Park (NYC) was $2000.

Without the rain we wouldn't have all that is lush and beautiful around us.

A typical 15th century farmhouse in Britain contained the wood of 330 oak trees.

We are animal people!

The "hall" was once not only the most important room in a home, it was the home!

Our nursery is chock full of great plants.

You can celebrate with gifts that grow each and every day.

In the 19th century up to 80% of all household expenditure was spent on food, and up to 80% of that went for bread.

 Every day you have much for which to be thankful.

Chicago is built on mud flats and most older buildings have settled at least a foot unless they are on a "raft".

The tallest brick building ever built is in Chicago: 16 stories with the street level walls being 6 feet thick.

Our lawn service program has begun but you can still sign up.

Thomas Jefferson had 23 different types of peas growing at Monticello and more than 250 kinds of fruits and other veggies.

 Baking soothes the soul. So does planting.

By the close of the 19th century J.D. Rockefeller's personal wealth was increasing by about $1 billion a year (today's money) and there was no income tax. No human being in modern times has been richer.

Raised gardens works!

Each of us needs less than 1 oz of vitamin B-1 to last a 70-80 year lifetime.

It is estimated by some that 60% of today's world's crops originated in the Americas.

Buy local.

We specialize in making ideas become realities.

In 1850 there was no tea being produced in India at all but 50 years later 140 million pounds were being produced.

Queen Caroline (wife of King George II) ordered the Serpentine, a pond which is the first manmade pond in the world designed not to look manmade.

Customer Service is our best product.

After the canal opened to connect NYC with the Great Lakes (via Lake Erie), the cost of shipping a ton of flour from Buffalo, NY to NYC fell from $120/ton to $6/ton and instead of taking 3 weeks to get there it took one.

We thought you'd enjoy some fun facts mixed in with our own business facts!